A man is on the run in North Carolina after allegedly committing a series of violent crimes, including the murder of his grandmother and setting her house ablaze. Authorities are actively searching for the suspect, who has also been accused of stabbing a deputy during an attempted arrest.

The suspect, 24-year-old Dominic Connelly, faces charges of murder, first-degree arson, attempted first-degree murder, felony assault on law enforcement, and vehicle theft. The victim, his grandmother, 72-year-old Patricia Lopedote, tragically lost her life in these events.

The investigation began on Saturday when a fire was reported at a residence located at 2010 North Carolina-101 Highway in Havelock, a city situated along the Neuse River approximately 135 miles southeast of Raleigh. The Craven County Sheriff’s Office announced that first responders discovered Lopedote’s body inside the burned home. The exact cause of her death remains unknown at this time.

Lopedote’s vehicle was initially missing from the scene but was later discovered unattended in a parking lot on Pine Tree Drive in New Bern, roughly 19 miles northwest of the initial crime scene.

By Wednesday, investigators identified Connelly as the primary suspect, marking a significant development in the case, which continues to evolve with new twists.

Someone reported to authorities that they believed Connelly was at a Bojangles restaurant in Vanceboro, roughly a 21-mile drive further north, still in the Tar Heel State. Deputies responded, finding Connelly in the bathroom of the establishment. But he apparently did not intend to be detained, as he “used a knife to assault a deputy” and then ran away, the sheriff’s office said.

Several law enforcement agencies are using drones, K-9s, and more in their search for Connelly, who was last seen wearing dark clothing running toward Bailey Lane apartments behind Bojangles.

Local authorities are asking the public to alert them if they see anything but not approach the suspect. Several local schools were closed for all students and staff on Thursday due to the “emergency situation.”

Craven County — of which Havelock, New Bern, and Vanceboro are all a part — is located in eastern North Carolina, largely within an hour of the coast.